If you’ve spent the last few weeks watching cottony white fluff drift through the air, you already know — Ohio cottonwood season is no joke. And right as temperatures start climbing into the 80s, that fluffy debris has been quietly packing itself into your HVAC equipment. Here’s what to check before the real heat arrives.
Clean Your Condenser Coils — Now
Cottonwood doesn’t just land on the ground. It collects on condenser coils like a sweater you never wanted. When coil surfaces are blocked, your unit has to work harder to reject heat — driving up energy costs and shortening equipment life. A thorough coil cleaning before peak cooling season is one of the highest-return maintenance tasks you can do. If it’s been skipped the last year or two, the difference in efficiency will show up on your utility bill and equipment life.
Check and Change Your Air Filters
Cottonwood fibers are large enough to load up an outdoor air filter fast. A dirty or clogged filter restricts airflow, causing evaporator coil freezing and can drive up indoor humidity — exactly the opposite of what you want heading into a humid Ohio summer. Walk your mechanical rooms and rooftop units and pull those filters. If they look dirty… they probably are.
Schedule a Pre-Season Service Call
The best time to find a refrigerant leak, a failing contactor, or a worn belt is before your tenants or employees are calling to say the AC isn’t keeping up. A pre-season inspection gives your service team time to source parts and schedule repairs without the urgency — and the premium pricing — that comes with a mid-July breakdown.
Don’t Wait for a Hot Day to Find Out Something’s Wrong
SKM Services helps facility managers and building owners across the Miami Valley keep their commercial HVAC systems running when it counts. Our maintenance schedule is filling up fast — and we have limited availability for additional pre-season work.
Schedule your pre-season maintenance by clicking here today!
If you read our earlier post on the 2026 DOE commercial water heater rule, here is an important development worth knowing about.
On April 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an Enforcement Policy Statement announcing a one-year delay in enforcement of the new thermal efficiency standards for commercial gas-fired water heaters. The compliance deadline remains October 6, 2026 on paper, but the DOE will not take enforcement action against manufacturers for non-compliant products until October 6, 2027. In practical terms, the industry has been given a one-year grace period.
The short version: there is more runway than there was a few months ago. Manufacturers like A.O. Smith, Rheem and Bradford White may continue producing and selling non-condensing commercial gas water heaters during the enforcement window. This means supply of conventional units will be available longer than previously expected and the urgency around product shortages has eased somewhat.
That said, a few things have not changed:
The rule itself is still law. The DOE’s enforcement delay is a policy decision, not a rollback of the standard. The October 2026 deadline is real, and the anti-backsliding provision that prevents the DOE from ever loosening these standards remains in place. Condensing technology will be the baseline — the timeline has simply shifted by one year.
Pre-2026 units can still be installed after the deadline. Non-condensing water heaters manufactured before October 6, 2026 can still be sold from existing inventory and installed after that date. Once that inventory is gone, it’s gone.
Long-term planning still matters. If your facility has aging water heating equipment, a one-year extension does not change the direction things are heading — it just gives you more time to proactively plan the transition rather than reactively.
Our Take
For Miami Valley building owners and facility managers, this delay is genuinely good news. It takes the immediate pressure off and creates more space to plan upgrades strategically — on your timeline and budget rather than one forced by supply constraints or a hard deadline.
We still think the facilities that will come out ahead are the ones that use this extra time wisely: auditing their equipment, understanding what a condensing upgrade would require for their specific building, and building a realistic transition plan before the window closes for good in October 2027.
Contact us today if you would like to talk through where your facility stands and discuss the path forward.
Across the country — and locally here in the Miami Valley — investment firms are acquiring mechanical contractors, rolling them into portfolios, and optimizing them for returns. It is a real trend, and it is accelerating. We have also seen what it means for local customers: distant ownership, diluted accountability, and relationships treated like assets on a balance sheet.
That is not who we are, and it is not who we intend to become.
SKM Services is not for sale; not for lack of interest. We genuinely love helping our customers build and operate their buildings — and we take seriously the trust our customers place in us every time they call.
When a facility manager relies on our team to keep their building systems operating, that is not a transaction but a relationship. Relationships do not transfer well to a new owner in another city.
Our commitment is identified in four ways:
Personal. We know our customers by name, not by account number. You will hear from real people who know your facility and care about getting it right.
Proactive. We look ahead, communicate early, and help you plan — so you avoid being caught off guard.
Professional. Our team is trained, accountable, and proud of the work they put their name on. That standard does not change regardless of the job size.
Profitable. We run a sustainable business so we can keep showing up for you — year after year, not just until the next acquisition.
The Miami Valley is our home. Our customers, our team members, and our local vendors are our community. Serving them well is not a strategy — it is our passion.
Update — May 2026: The DOE has announced a one-year enforcement delay on these standards, pushing the effective enforcement date to October 6, 2027. Read our update post here.
What building owners and facility managers need to know about the 2026 DOE Water Heater Rule… If your facility or commercial building runs on gas-fired water heaters, a significant regulatory change is coming — and the time to start planning is now. On October 6, 2026, new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency standards take effect for commercial water heaters. Any product manufactured on or after October 6th must meet updated requirements – both storage and tankless models. The conventional non-condensing gas water heaters which have long been the standard in commercial buildings are being phased out. Just like this one below….
Don’t wait until an equipment failure forces your hand. Contact us today to formulate a plan and get ahead of the deadline, avoiding supply constraints and elevated costs.
What Exactly Is Changing? The rule requires commercial gas storage water heaters to meet or exceed a Thermal Efficiency (TE) of 95%, while commercial gas tankless products and volume water heaters must meet or exceed a TE of 96%. These minimums effectively mandate the use of condensing technology. Standby loss requirements for storage products are also tightening. It is worth noting, the DOE has determined not to propose more stringent standards for commercial electric water heaters in this rule. If your facility already relies on electric units, this particular change does not apply to you.
What Does This Mean in Practice? The shift to condensing units is not just a paperwork change — it has real physical implications for your building. Installation of condensing water heaters will require re-piping and new venting, along with access to an outside wall for the new venting connections and a floor drain for condensate. That’s a meaningful infrastructure consideration, especially for older buildings where mechanical rooms was not designed with this equipment in mind. The good news is the new standards are projected to save businesses and operators $140 million per year in operating costs, and the DOE estimates adoption of these standards will reduce carbon emissions by 38 million metric tons between 2026 and 2055. Higher upfront costs are real, but so is the long-term payoff.
The Supply Side Is Already Shifting Here is a detail that catches many facility managers off guard: non-condensing water heaters can still be sold after October 2026, but only from existing inventory. Manufacturers are expected to start limiting purchases of non-condensing models months before the deadline, with June 2026 estimated as the cutoff date for distributors to order additional standard-efficiency models. That means if your current equipment fails after mid-2026, you may not be able to get a like-for-like replacement. You’ll likely be looking at a condensing upgrade whether you planned for it or not — and potentially on a tight timeline, which can mean longer lead times and more facility downtime. If you manage a facility in the Miami Valley, our team can assess your current equipment and help you build a realistic transition plan before the window closes. Reach out today to get started.
This Change Is Permanent One more thing worth understanding: this is not a rule that can be walked back. Federal law includes an “anti-backsliding” provision that prevents the DOE from taking any future action that would undo an already established energy efficiency requirement. Now that condensing technology has been set as the minimum standard, it is setting up camp.
What Should You Do Now? The facilities that will navigate this with little inconvenience are the ones who treat it as a planned capital project rather than an emergency. Start by auditing your current water heating equipment — note the age, efficiency rating, and venting configuration of each unit. Any system approaching end of life before 2027 or 2028 is a strong candidate for a proactive upgrade now, while supply and scheduling are still predictable. For units you plan to replace after the deadline, start conversations with your mechanical contractor early so venting and drainage requirements can be factored into your building’s infrastructure plans ahead of time. The October 2026 deadline will arrive faster than it looks on the calendar, and the supply chain is already starting to reflect that reality.
Ready to Get Ahead of the Deadline? Our team serves the Miami Valley and is ready to help you assess your current water heating infrastructure, identify which units are most at risk, and develop a transition plan that fits your property or facility’s timeline and budget. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
Congratulations! You survived 10-14 inches of snow and sub-zero temperatures which may have had you concerned that Frozen 3 was being released early….
During the heat wave this week, here are a few tips as things thaw:
Check your gutters – They are probably full of ice and basically clogged. Where will the melting snow continue to go? Onto walkways.. important HVAC equipment… gas meter or electrical boxes?
Water main shut off – Know where it is and be ready to use it. Right now water lines in walls may have burst but be frozen. The warm up will melt the ice plug and you know the rest of the story…
Restore HVAC thermostat or control schedules – If you locked your systems into 72 and “hold” – don’t forget to reset the schedules and take advantage of energy savings. If on a heat pump system, go back to heat pump mode.
Sneaky roof leaks – We received above average snow so ice dams will be worse than normal. Sometimes proper flashings can still fail allowing ice dams to wreak havoc across most roofs.
Giant mountain of snow in your parking lot – Where will that melting water go? What happens if it re-freezes at night? Keep salt on hand or work with your snow removal contractor to move it for you.
Already checked all of the above? Grab your Hawaiian shirt and flip flops and get ready to enjoy the heatwave – 35 degrees!
If you have a heating or plumbing emergency give us a call at 937-877-2250.
SKM Services is Hiring! We are seeking a Commercial HVAC Service Technician with 5+ year experience servicing and installing commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
Valid driver’s license with clean driving record, clean background check
A dependable, self-motivated technician who takes pride in doing the job right the first time
We Offer:
Competitive pay based on experience
Company vehicle, tools, and technology support
Health insurance benefits
Retirement plan with company match
Paid holidays, PTO and Vacation days
Ongoing training and opportunities for advancement
A stable, growing company committed to empowering technicians to succeed
Why join SKM Services?
Our reputation is built on relationships and results. At SKM Services, you are part of a team which values excellence, integrity, and accountability. We focus exclusively on commercial and industrial clients, giving our technicians a professional working environment paired with consistent, rewarding work.
Ready to start your future at SKM Services? Join Our Team
Bonus – Want to Read a Little About the great work Mike Rowe is doing to reinvigorate the trades? Check Him Out. You might even see his S.W.E.A.T. Pledge hanging in our offices…
As the Christmas season approaches, we’d like to extend our warmest wishes to all of our customers. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year—we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
To help our team enjoy the holidays with their loved ones, please note our special hours:
✨ Holiday Hours:
Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve):8a-12p
Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day):Closed
Friday, December 26:Available for Emergency Service
Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve):8a-12p
Thursday, January 1 (New Year’s Day):Closed
Normal business hours will resume on Friday, January 2 – 8 am – 4 pm.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season!
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
This week, our team had the honor of spending an evening with the young men of Victory Project, serving dinner and sharing conversation with 25 incredible middle school students. What unfolded was more than just a meal – it was a chance to live out our core value of Personal in a meaningful and memorable way.
As volunteers prepared the meal and served each student, we kept one intention in mind: every plate we filled was for a young man with a story, a dream and a future worth investing in.
We’re grateful to Victory Project for welcoming us and for the impactful work they do every day. It is a privilege to be part of their mission and to walk alongside these young men, even if just for one evening a month.
To join us in serving and learning more about Victory Project, click below.
The Victory Project is a privately funded 501(c)(3) after-school program mentoring disengaged young men, grades 8-12, in Dayton, Ohio.
Open six days a week, year-round
Sharing dinner together EVERY weeknight
Engaging community volunteers for tutoring
Facilitating a program which allows the young men a chance to work
Conducting weekly bible studies
If you have a passion for serving, resources, or prayers to offer they would love to meet you! Visit their website to learn about this amazing organization! www.victoryproject.org
As we pause to celebrate Thanksgiving, the SKM Services team will be out of the office on Thursday and Friday this week. We hope you enjoy a restful and meaningful holiday with family and friends.
Although our office will be closed, our commitment to serving our commercial partners never takes a holiday. If you are an existing PM customer with an urgent HVAC or plumbing need, please use our main phone number and our team will respond promptly.
Thank you for your trust and partnership throughout the year. From all of us at SKM Services, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
